Poinsettia plant named HWD Capri

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant named HWD Capri, characterized by its dark red flower bracts; freely branching plant habit; short crop time, early to flower; large, showy cyathia; and excellent postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPoinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.,known as the variety Duecap, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivarname HWD Capri.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop a new dark red variety with good branching andexcellent postproduction longevity.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of thecultivar Angelika (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,492) as the male or pollenparent with the nonpatented cultivar Steffi as the female or seedparent.

The cultivar HWD Capri was discovered and selected by the inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany. Asexual reproduction of the newcultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Rheinberg, Germany, has shownthat the unique features of this new Poinsettia are stabilized andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristivcs of HWD Capri. These characteristics incombination distinguish HWD Capri as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Dark red flowers bracts.

2. Freely branching plant habit.

3. Short crop time, early to flower.

4. Large, showy cyathia.

5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

In comparison to the parent cultivar Steffi, the new Poinsettia hasdarker red flower bract color; flower bracts have acuminate compared toacute tips; and flower bracts overlap each other whereas the flowerbracts of plants of the cultivar Steffi do not overlap giving an openappearance. In comparison to the parent cultivar Angelika, the newPoinsettia has a more red flower bract color; less lobing of the foliageand has longer postproduction longevity as the leaves are retainedlonger and flower bract color does not fade as quickly.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical potted plant of HWD Capriwith one pinched plant in a 15-cm container.

The cultivar HWD Capri has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingobservations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown inRheinberg, Germany, under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures of 22° C. and night temperatures of 18°C. and light levels of 30,000 to 40,000 lux. Plants were grown in 15-cmpots with one pinched plant per pot.

In the following description, color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Commercial.--Poinsettia.

Cultivar.--`HWD Capri`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--`Angelika` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,492).

Female parent.--`Steffi`.

Propagation:

Type cuttings.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: 27° C., 21 days. Winter 20° C., 28days.

Rooting habit.--Fine, freely branching.

Plant description:

Plant form.--Vase-shaped.

Growth habit.--Freely branching and upright. Branching is enhanced bythe removal of the apical shoot tip.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Opposite. Size: Length: 11.5 to 12cm. Width: 7.5 to 9.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Tip: Acuminate. Base: Acute.Margin: Lobed. Texture: Upper side: Velvety, glabrous. Under side:Pubescent at veins. Color: Young foliage upper side: 137A. Young foliageunder side: Greener than 147B. Mature foliage top side: 137A. Maturefoliage under side: Greener than 147B. Venation: Upper side: In between146B and 144A. Under side: 146B. Petiole: Pattern: Pinnate. Length: 4.5to 6 cm. Color: 183A.

Flower description:

Inflorescence type and habit.--Inflorescences are compound corymbs ofcyathia with colored flower bracts subtending the cyathia.

Natural flowering season.---Autumn/winter in Northern Hemisphere. Flowerinitiation and development can be induced under short day/long nightconditions.

Time to flower.--8 weeks under short day/long night conditions.

Quantity of inflorescences.--10 to 15 cyathia per corymb.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: 28 to 29 cm. Height (depth): 5 to 7 cm.

Flower bracts.--Attitude: Horizontal to stem axis. Quantity of flowerbracts: 17 per inflorescence. Size: Length: 9 to 11 cm. Width: 5 to 6cm. Shape: Ovate. Tip: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire, usuallynot lobed. Texture: Upper side: Satiny, glabrous. Under side: Smooth,glabrous. Color: When opening: 46C then becoming 46B. Mature, top side:Redder than 46B. Mature, under side: 47B. Fading on edges: 38D.Venation: Upper side: 46B. Under side: 47B. Petiole: Length: 14 cm.Color: In between 146A and 146B.

Cyathia.--Quantity: 10 to 15 per corymb. Color: Immature: 146C. Mature:146C. Diameter of cyathia cluster: 4 to 4.5 cm. Stamens: Stamen number:30 to 40 per cyanthium. Anther size: 0.5 mm. Anther color: 46A. Pollencolor: 11A. Pistils: Pistil number: 1 per cyanthium. Stigma color: 183A.Style color: 145C. Style length: 2 mm. Ovary number: 3. Nectaries:Usually one and sometimes two per cyathium.

Disease resistance: No fungal, baceterial nor viral problems observed.

Postproduction longevity: Generally more than 4 weeks under interiorconditions.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Poinsettia plant namedHWD Capri, as illustrated. and described.